Asthma can be terrifying, whether it’s a loved one or it’s you that is affected. You should be aware of what asthma entails and what it can do, and how it’s treated so you can manage it appropriately. You should have an idea on what to expect, as well as knowing when asthma can flare up, and the tips presented here will certainly be of help to you.
What type of asthma are you having to deal with? Being aware of your particular asthma condition can help you to effectively treat it on a daily basis. People who suffer from exercise-induced asthma will need to make sure that they have an inhaler with them inside of their gym bag. Knowing symptom patterns will help you prevent emergencies.
It is vital that neither you, nor anyone else, smoke around a child with asthma. Secondhand smoke is a trigger for asthma attacks, not to mention the myriad of other diseases it can cause. Never allow anyone to smoke around your child, and teach them not to smoke as an adult themselves.
Prescriptions and over-the-counter medications can actually trigger an asthma attack. Aspirin and some other NSAIDs may do this. Many medications for heart disease and hypertension can also cause asthma symptoms. If you suffer from asthma, be sure that your medical professional is aware of this.
Cleaning Products
When you suffer a medium-intensity attack, try and forcefully exhale all air from your lungs. Exhale quickly and hard. This will force the air from your lungs. Then, follow three short intakes of breath with one longer inhalation until your lungs are filled with air, although not uncomfortably so. Finally, expel the air from your lungs with force again. This will make your breathing rhythmic and help you pay more attention to it. By repeatedly forcing air out, you make room for new air so that your breathing can get back on track. You might cough or produce sputum, but that is fine; you are trying to get breathing under control again.
If you’re suffering from asthma, it helps if you can avoid any harsh cleaning products out there. Many of the harsh chemicals inside cleaning products might trigger symptoms or even a full blown asthma attack. If you clean the home, there are many natural products that are safe to use.
You will need to keep your residence really clean, especially the bedroom where the asthma sufferer sleeps in order to help lessen the chances of an attack. Do not allow smoking in your house, and keep food in your kitchen. After you clean, let the house air out completely, and stay away from using any harsh chemicals (especially bleach) inside.
Resist the urge to turn on a fan if you find yourself in a room filled with dust. This will move all the dust around, and can easily trigger an asthma attack. If possible, open a window to increase the flow of air into the room.
You should be ready to increase asthma treatments if you suffer from hay fever or a cold. A lot of illnesses can cause your asthma to flare up very badly, resulting in the necessity to increase asthma treatment. Your doctor may need to add new treatments to your typical asthma regimen until you are well.
Asthma Attacks
A yearly flu shot is necessary if you suffer from asthma. Prevent these infections from occurring by going to get vaccinated each year.
Leukotriene inhibitors may be helpful to you if you suffer from asthma. A leukotriene inhibitor is for the prevention of leukotrienes. A leukotrienes is a type of chemical that causes inflammation, which leads to asthma attacks. The inhibitor will keep the leukotrienes from forming, which can reduce the frequency of asthma attacks that you experience.
Most homes are full of common asthma triggers. These triggers include dust, spores and mold. To reduce asthma attacks and stay healthy, have an inspector remove any harmful agents yearly. In addition, cleaning the house regularly can greatly contribute to keeping these substances from building up.
If you have hay fever or a cold, chances are your asthma treatment will be increased. Side effects that are associated with most illnesses can serve as triggers for asthma and may cause an increase in your asthma treatment. Your physician might also work an additional treatment into your therapy until such time as you are healthier.
Wear scarves, shawls and mufflers to cover your noise and mouth during colder weather. This will warm the air before it enters your lungs. Inhaling cold air can elicit an asthma attack or create other serious respiratory problems.
If you are dealing with asthma, a good idea is to use a pillow without feathers. Feathers can aggravate symptoms of asthma and lower lung function. This applies to bedding, as well. Purchase sheets and comforters that are made of hypoallergenic materials.
Asthma takes a long time to develop and doesn’t yield obvious symptoms. Many individuals died from their very first asthma attack because they weren’t aware they had the risk factors for an attack. That is why it is important to check regularly with your doctor and always point out if you are having any kind of breathing problems or related symptoms. With the proper medical attention, you can prevent attacks and keep asthma under control.
For many people, their homes can be triggering their asthma, or even causing their asthma in the first place. These can include dust, mold and spores. If you want to prevent and manage these sources of asthma attacks, have regular home inspections by a professional, and get identified harming agents cleaned out. Clean up your house regularly so these substances do not accumulate.
If you are traveling by plane and taking along your asthma medications, make sure to have with you any written doctors prescriptions, especially when carrying some large asthma equipment like a nebulizer. You’ll speed up the process of going through security if you have written proof that shows that the items are necessary.
A humid home environment is a healthy environment for mildew and mold to develop. Asthma attacks are easily triggered by these substances. Thus, keep the air in your home as moisture-free as possible to avoid asthma-related problems. During the winter, you can use a dehumidifier to control humidity when using a heater, and an air conditioner during the summer will help keep your home dry.
Anytime you clean your house or apartment, wet mopping is superior to sweeping. If you are sweeping, you can trigger an asthma attack by stirring up a lot of allergens into the air. A moist rag chosen over a feather duster is the best choice for an asthmatic.
Bundle up during winter weather if you have asthma. Covering your nose and mouth with a scarf or muffler helps prevent asthma attacks. That way the air is warmed before it enters your lungs. In multiple studies, breathing cold air is linked to increased asthma attacks. This link is especially pronounced in younger children.
Your bed linens are where pollen, dust and other allergens like to collect. You could reduce the potential impact of these asthma inducers by cleaning your sheets regularly. You will find that having fresh linens will make your breathing while sleeping much easier.
Maintenance Medication
Avoid smoking and people who are smokers. Smoking is an unhealthy habit for everyone, but it poses an even greater danger to people with asthma. Smoke greatly irritates the sensitive lungs of the person with asthma, so in addition to not smoking, someone with asthma should avoid people that are smoking.
Be sure you understand how to use the medication you’re given for asthma properly, especially your rescue medication. When you have asthma, you should be on a maintenance medication and have an emergency medicine for asthma attacks. Usually this is in the form of an inhaler. Because asthma has no cure, you must treat it carefully by taking your maintenance medication every day and using your emergency medication responsibly.
People that experience asthma must stay indoors as often as they can when pollen is abundant. Even though asthma is not considered to be an allergy, asthma is triggered by the same things that cause allergies. Since data on air quality is now widely published, those with asthma have the ability to avoid being outside when concentrations of irritants are high.
Asthma develops over an extended time period, and its symptoms aren’t always obvious. Sometimes, a person can die from their first asthma attack without actually knowing they had the disease to begin with! It is advised that you seek out a medical professional if you ever have shortness of breath or experience constant coughing; this may be a sign that you suffer from asthma and need proper medication to prevent an asthma attack and keep your condition under control.
If you use your rescue inhaler more than two times a week, see a doctor to have your medication adjusted. Using your inhaler this frequently means your prescription is not effectively treating your asthma. Having to restock your inhaler more frequently than once every six months is also a concern.
If you are taking an airplane and you need to travel with your asthma apparatus or medications, bring your written prescription with you. Without a written prescription stating that the item is medically necessary, you may experience frustration and delays at security checkpoints.
Check in with your doctor regularly to ensure that you are maintaining your asthma condition correctly and successfully. Your doctor can check to see if your condition has changed, and if it has, update your treatment plan. It is important that you keep these appointments so that your doctor is able to keep you healthy.
Use your inhaler when you need to, but be aware that this product can cause infections near your gums and teeth. Brushing or gargling immediately after use can help reduce the risk of infection and other problems.
Know the symptoms of a serious asthma attack so you’ll know when it is time to head for the hospital. Seek immediate medical attention if an asthma treatment does not have the intended effect or extremities like the lips and nails take on a bluish gray hue. Your child might also find it difficult to speak.
As was discussed in this article, there is so much you need to learn about asthma. The advice in the article above is just a starting point to help yourself or a loved one to reduce the symptoms and cope with asthma. With a combination of this information, and your doctor’s advice, you can lessen the effects of asthma.
Look for signs of an allergic reaction to food in your children. If they develop hives or have difficulty breathing after consuming a specific food, have their pediatrician test them for that allergy. Food allergies can be a precursor to asthma.